Dear Colleagues, I am absolutely delighted to inform that Dr. Nancy Ho, Research Professor Emerita in our School, will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama. The award, announced today, is the highest honor for technological achievement bestowed by the President of the United States. The recipients will be honored during a White House ceremony early next year. Dr. Ho is being recognized for her research on using recombinant DNA techniques to improve industrial microorganisms, particularly for the production of renewable biofuels and bio-products by using renewable cellulosic resources as feedstock. Her most noted work has been the development of recombinant Saccharomyces yeast that can effectively produce cellulosic ethanol from all types of cellulosic plant materials such as corn stalks, wheat straws, wood and grasses. Dr. Ho is the second faculty member from our School to be recognized by the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in recent years. Dr. Rakesh Agrawal received this recognition in 2011. A news release about Dr. Ho's award is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/22/president-obama-honor... Please join me in congratulating Dr. Nancy Ho for this superb recognition! Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2016! Arvind Arvind Varma R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Head of Chemical Engineering Purdue University